Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team will attempt to bounce back from a road loss last week to Western Kentucky go for its third consecutive home win Thursday night against Arkansas State at the Mitchell Center.

The Jaguars (12-10, 4-7 Sun Belt) and Red Wolves (10-15, 4-6) will tip off at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on WNSP 105.5 FM and www.wnsp.com. Subscribers to Jaguars All-Access can watch live on USAJaguars.com. There will also be updates via live stats, twitter (@USAJaguarSports) and live chat.

Despite the defeat on Saturday, the USA has still won two of their last three outings. ASU, on the other hand, has dropped six of its last eight and is in the midst of playing five out of six games on the road.

“Home court advantage is only as good as you make it,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “When you play at home, it should be a tremendous advantage. Hopefully we’ll have a nice crowd; they always help get the guys going. Regardless of how many games they’ve played on the road, we just have to worry about our business. It’s that simple.”

Arkansas State holds a narrow 17-16 edge in the all-time series between the two schools and has won two in a row over South Alabama.

The ASU offense is balanced, with five players averaging 9.4 points per game or better (USA has two active players averaging 9.4 or more). Senior Malcoln Kirkland is one of two in double-digits with a team-high 12.0 points per contest and is second on the squad with 6.2 rebounds per outing.

“They’re all capable,” Arrow said. “Their first five guys are good. We have to guard those first five guys. Their subs, when they go in, are a lot like us: they have to go in and make things happen. Whatever defenses we use, we have to hold them to the 30-percent range.”

While they rank just ninth in the Sun Belt in 3-pointers per game, the Red Wolves are the league’s second most-accurate 3-point shooting team, converting 36.4 percent from long-range. However, in its last outing at Seattle, ASU hit just 4 of 15 (26.7%) from distance.

“If they don’t have the ball, they can’t shoot it,” Arrow noted. “We have to keep their shooters from getting the ball. If they do get it, then we need to make them put the ball on the floor and not allow them to catch, get their feet set and become a good shooting team. A lot of times with good shooters, it’s how they start the game. If you get on them and make them take some bad shots, then good things can happen for you. If you don’t get on them and they get in a comfort zone, then it can be a long night.”

Arkansas State may be one of the top 3-point offensive teams in the conference, but it is the worst defensively beyond the arc, allowing opponents to shoot 38.8 percent. South Alabama is coming off a 5-for-11 (45.5%) shooting performance Saturday, its highest since Jan. 14 at Troy.

“I don’t think you can tell shooters to go out there and start shooting just because the other team is poor defensively,” Arrow said. “Shooters will find ways to get shots and that’s what our guys need to do. Just because they don’t guard the 3-point line we don’t need to start jacking up a bunch of 3s.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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